282 



Culture of the Cucumber. 



It is but justice to add, that the frames so treated are placed 

 over two 4-inch hot-water pipes (see the section of the boiler 

 and pipes in Jig. 27.); and these pipes are sunk 2 ft. beneath 



d 



Fig. 27. Section of Boiler and Pipes. 

 * 



the ground level, and are used to connect a vinery with the 

 boiler that supplies the water to heat it. A cavity is formed for 

 this purpose over the 

 pipes ; upon the top 

 of this the dung, to 

 the usual extent, is 

 placed, and the air 

 circulated from the 

 front to the back by 

 pipes placed for that 

 purpose, after Penn's 

 excellent manner. 

 (See the section of 

 the pit in Jig. 28.) 

 It is possible that the 

 advocates of conti- 

 nual airing may con- 

 tend that the whole Fig. 28. Section oj Cucumber-Pit. 



success of the plan depends upon this arrangement ; but others 

 have succeeded without it. So far as the circulation of the 

 air is concerned, it may as effectually be accomplished by 

 simply using a wooden box of the breadth of the bed, to be laid 

 upon the ground, with a hole cut a few inches from each end, of a 

 proper diameter to admit the ends of an iron, or, what is much 

 better, an earthen, pipe, of the requisite length, so that, when 

 finished, the whole may appear as shown in Jig. 29. This is an 

 improvement and a saving of materials in any bed heated by 

 fermenting substances ; as heat engendered in any part of the 



